The Influence of Bareback Porn

Bareback porn is everywhere. A quick type into Google brings up hundreds of potential websites and, even if you’re not looking for it specifically, it really is hard to avoid. There are plenty of MSM porn companies that even specialise in this contorversial niche area. Maybe it’s no surpise then that a recent survey published in FS magazine (Summer 2012) showed that a staggering 96% of gay and bi men have watched bareback porn and 70% of men said it is a type of porn they like to watch.

Amongst those who do not watch bareback porn one of the principal dangers with it was the normalisation of unprotected sex and the renforcement that having bareback sex was hot, fun, prevalent and OK. However, one thing that appears to be up in the air is whether this normalisation and watching bareback porn actually leads viewers to engage in unprotected sex. Whilst only around half of gay/bi men thought there was a link (FSA Summer 2012), it is something many men worry about and often ask about in advice columns of LGBT magazines and websites.

I think it is difficult to say whether watching translates into having unprotected sex. In Los Angeles they definitely think so – recent legistlation has been passed which forbids the production of bareback porn. On the other hand, those making bareback porn would argue that the porn industry is merely reflective of behaviour amongst gay and bisexual men. Even though hard evidence is difficult to come by it’s definitely something many gay and bi men feel strongly about and have an opinion one way or another. What do you think? Can the porn industry argue that is simply mirrors practices rather than encouraging them? Should bareback porn be banned?

Perhaps the most important question is whether you personally feel you are having unprotected sex because of the porn you’re watching and whether you are doing this even knowing the risks that it brings. Is it something you are concerned about? If so we might be able to help. We offer free counselling, mentoring and sexual advice for gay and bisexual men who are worried about the risks they are taking sexually. Please see our website for more information: http://www.gmipartnership.org.uk/

The survey showed that a small proportion of men (7%) believed that watching BB porn had lead to them having unprotected sex, and that a much larger group (53%) thought that BB porn lead to others having unprotected sex. Obviously it’s difficult to show a direct causal link (the same for violence in movies) but I can’t help but feel that fantasy depictions of consequence free condomless sex is unhelpful to HIV prevention, and can present a health risk for the performers.